Monday, March 21, 2011

Update on rescue efforts at sea...

On Sunday 20th March, 2011, at about 11:00am, information was received from The Belize Coast Guard of a cargo vessel that had sunk about two miles out of the outer reef, east of Caye Caulker Village. Initial investigations revealed that the vessel was a cargo ship, 74 meters in length and 11meters in width, with the name HELGA that was travelling from Panama and was heading to Mexico with a shipment of salt. The crew consisted of (11) male person, all of Cuban Nationality. The crew rescued were namely: Iraelio Mengana Garcia, 47yrs; Armando Garnado Martinez, 47yrs; Antonio Perez Sadez, 37yrs; Humberto Iglesias Hernandez, 49yrs; Alfredo Porta Martinez, 43yrs; Jose Consta Nalia, 46yrs; George Herrera Aldana, 38yrs; Joaquin Ruiz De Zarate Arribas, 39yrs. The three that are still missing Arturo Edreira Cuza (Captain), Nelson Perez Ardao and Alexis Gonzalez Cune are still being sought by Coast Guard, Police and local personnel.

Captain Arturo Edreira Cuza, this is his correct name, is still missing after the sinking of his Cargo Ship in the Coast of Belize. captain Arturo Edreira Cuza, father of two, husband, son, cousin is sadly missed by his family in Cuba. The Cuban government did not allow today the Captains Cousin to board the plane that was provided to bring back the surviving crew. He was trying to go to Belize to participate in the search and follow up with authorities on status of the search. Captains Edreira family in Cuba is desperate and has no means to support a wider search, they plead to the Belize Coast Guard to report the results and locations of the search and to provide any information that might help find Captain Arturo Edreira. Are all adjacent Islands, Cays etc, being searched? Is there anything that could be done to ascertain no spots are missing , could captain Arturo Edreira be stranded on a deserted Island? Please provide us whatever information may be available. God Bless